Politics

Termites In The House

Published

12 years ago

June 23, 2014

When President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan told the public that Boko Haram members had infiltrated his government, he was taken to the cleaners. Critics said that statement was to score cheap political point for his government and his party-Peoples Democratic Party. Others reasoned that Jonathan’s claim was diversionary – only intended to divert the attention of Nigerians from the intensity of Boko Haram criminality in the land. The Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces was also challenged to expose the alleged insurgents dinning and winning with him in his government.
What probably emerged out of that challenge was the sacking of security chiefs and replacement of new ones. Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that the overhaul of the security chiefs would produce tangible results to douse security challenges but were disappointed the more when despite claims of the security operations that they were on top of the situation, the Boko Haram terror group repeatedly harassed and assaulted the polity with impunity especially in the North East zone of the country with scores of loss of lives at every attack.
The height of the sects’ assault was the kidnap of over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State and of course the successive incessant attacks on military formations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States which are currently under emergency rule. The question is why the Boko Haram having a field day, so to say, in their operations?
Boko literally means book (western education), while forbidden is the literary meaning of Haram. While the claim that the Boko Haram militants are against western education remains questionable, the activities of the muslem sect so far lend credence to the fact that they have hidden agenda beyond their so-called grouse against western education.
The worsening security situations especially in the North East where Boko Haram attacks have led to a rising number of deaths on a daily basis have consumed Nigerians in fear. While the service chiefs reportedly reassure that the military is on top of the situation, Nigerians are yet to come to terms with escalated killings within the last one year despite heavy reliance on military operations to restore order in the troubled areas.
As a matter of fact, the revelations by some soldiers engaged in fighting insurgency in the North show that there are termites in the house and that explains why no appreciable progress has been recorded in routing out the insurgents in the worst affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; a situation that has brought President Jonathan and his government under local and international pressure to act fast and save the people from destruction.
One of the soldiers (name withheld) painted a clear picture that all is not well in military camps. The source alleged that four officers brought military kits with arms and ammunition, preparatory for army attack on known insurgents’ camps in the night but the enemy in the house sold the military plan and strategy out and the terrorists struck at army camps and took away the military kits and ammunitions with embarrassing casualties on the side of Nigerian army. What could make the four officers to be absent at the army camp when Boko Haram allegedly invaded the camp and made a mess of the soldiers? The answer can be found in the dictionary of sabotage.
“Boko Haram militants are not faceless, not invisible. We know their locations. Oga see, when an order is given for the soldiers to prepare for war against the militants, before you know it, a counter-order is issued for the soldiers to stay out of action. You will not be surprise to see the militants attacking and killing the soldiers when we have given up the spirit for action”, the source recounted bitterly.
In both instances, you can see the handwriting of sabotage and this remains the bane of the military in the fight against insurgents in the land. If it is not sabotage, how can Boko Haram, in a show of nothing ‘mega’ attack and kill alarming numbers of Nigerian soldiers well-known for military and peace-keeping operations across the globe? Even when security information are provided from impeccable sources on how best to rout the insurgents and restore order, such security information are hardly acted upon or tactically delayed to enable the sect re-strategise towards beating the military to her plan of dislodging them.
For instance, a young man trained by Boko Haram on map reading outside Nigerian shores surrendered himself to security authorities in Nigeria when he returned back to the country and found out that his country home in Borno State has been leveled by those he was trained to work for. Vital information provided by the acclaimed Boko Haram point man have been reportedly hoarded by the power-that-be and even divulged to the militants. Today, the life of the young man is in danger.
The military’s seeming weak response to most of the Boko Haram attacks may have prompted the alleged investigation of some officers and men of the armed forces for offence such as cowardice, negligence and failure to perform military duty and leakage of information to the enemy. Though, the military authorities may not be favourably disposed to the report that some officers and men are being probed, it is also not untrue that the army had “put some personnel believed to be involved in unacceptable military conduct under close watch as part of the efforts to sanitise the service.
Always on daily basis, members of the Islamic sect increasingly dare the military and civilian targets. The attacks, in some cases are carried out with pre-information, and the casualties remain unimaginable, no thanks to the poor intelligence gathering of the security operatives in the country. The era of armed-chair intelligence gathering has gone. We need to protect our democracy, national unity and political stability by waging total war against terrorism with proper and efficient intelligence gathering mechanism.
The soldiers may be willing to give their best in the terrorism war, but they are being subdued morally by corruption, ill-equipment and challenges in welfare. The ineffectiveness of military operations against the insurgents, apparently culminated in the mutiny of soldiers at the Maimalari cantonment recently, against their General Officer Commanding while addressing them. A better tonic for the weary soldiers is to ensure that they (soldiers) are not in want in terms of ordnance and materials. Overhauling the military and its strategy on insurgency is not a bad idea.
Security challenges have assumed higher dimension and have left serious demands on the resources of the military. But the military is crying of inadequate funding. The Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Maj-General Abdullahi Muriana, at a training programme for the Nigerian Army Finance Corps Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers at Jaji, near Kaduna, said that inadequate funding of the military was hampering the ability of the soldiers from halting the insurgents. The review of budgetary allocations of the military especially in the area of equipment acquisition and welfare is necessary to boost strength and psychology in winning the war against terrorism.
In a country that insecurity has created the atmosphere of tension, fear and helplessness, the problem of corruption and bureaucratic bottlenecks in the release of approved funds for military operations is a problem that demands urgent attention.
The media are awash with reports that some civil servants in the Defence Ministry demand and receive commission before approved funds for military operations are released. While the report may remain an allegation for now, there is no smoke without fire. Many people are feeding fat at the discomfort of the system and it matters nothing to them if such acts ground the system to a halt.
Insurgency is a global phenomenon and the only language the insurgents understand well enough is the language of force. The military has the capacity to march force with force with the insurgents and deliver with good reports. That can be achieved when the termites in the house are extinguished. Even more important is the need to check the activities of highly-placed individuals and groups that give tacit support to terror groups.
Saving Nigeria from the stronghold of insurgency should also go beyond military engagement. It must include education, sensitization and advocacy by the media and community-based organizations to save vulnerable minds from being recruited for acts of terrorism and criminality.

Samuel Eleonu

Politics

Parties’ Deregistration: How Justice Lifu Overruled Appeal Court Justices

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday brushed aside the order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered him to stay proceedings in a suit that sought deregistration of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Accord Party and three others.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision of a panel of three Justices had on May 22, 2026 directed the Federal High Court Judge not to proceed with the suit until an appeal pending before them and filed by Accord Party is resolved.
In a Certified True Copy Enrol Order of the Superior Court, Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko and Oyejoju Oyewumi asked the lower Court Judge to stay proceedings until all issues on the appeal filed by the Accord Party were resolved
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State had, through the Accord Party, applied to justice Lifu to join him as a defendant in the deregistration legal battle instituted by a group of former legislators.
The contention of the Osun State governor was that he had a stake in the Accord Party, being the platform he was seeking re-election in the August 15 gubernatorial poll in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu on April 27 ruled against the Osun State governor, rejecting his request to be joined in the suit to defend his own position and interest.
Not satisfied with the Federal High Court decision, the Osun State governor, through his lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja where he challenged the Justice Lifu decision to refuse to allow him join the suit.
After listening to the argument canvassed, especially that he has interest to protect as Accord Party gubernatorial candidate for Osun State governorship election, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal, unanimously directed Justice Lifu to allow them look into the grievances of the governor.
In specific terms, the Court of Appeal Justices directed Justice Lifu not to proceed further with the matter and fixed October 27 to determine the interlocutory appeal of the appellant.
However, when the certified enroll order and notice of appeal were served on Justice Peter Lifu by Mr Adetunbi (SAN), the judge rejected it on the ground that it was a ploy to arrest his judgment in the matter.
Although the judge had adjourned his judgment delivery in the matter indefinitely, he finally made a dramatic turn around on Monday and proceeded to deliver the judgment that has now proscribed the five political parties.

Politics

ADC: Okonkwo Rejects Amaechi As Presidential Running Mate, Withdraws Support

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Actor turned politician, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, has rejected the choice of former Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement on Monday, Mallam Bolaji Abdulllahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, announced the party’s choice of Mr Amaechi.
However in a statement, Mr Okonkwo said that the choice of Mr Amaechi from the South South strengthens the continued marginalization of people from the South East.
According to the former spokesperson of the Labour Party, any arrangement that would not factor a person from the South East either as president or vice president in the party is anti-Igbo.
He contended that Chief Raph Nwosu, who founded the ADC in 2005 and willingly surrendered it’s leadership to Senator David Mark did not do so to entrench Igbo marginalization in the party.
The former actor said: “I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
“This geo-political zone has neither produced a president or vice president since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the president or vice president in the ADC in 2027, will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
“The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
“I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the national chairman and the president, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the vice president in 2027.
“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, geo-political zone, or person will be marginalised.
“The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his vice.
“If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as president or vice in 2027”

Politics

2027: Tinubu’s Projects Give APC Edge In South East – Yilwatda

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, on Monday said that the numerous projects being executed by President Bola Tinubu across the states in the southeast will give him upper hand over other presidential candidates during next year’s general elections.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this at the Abakaliki Township Stadium during a mega rally organized by the Ebonyi State government and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during which President Tinubu and other APC candidates for the 2027 general elections were adopted.
According to the APC National Chairman, no President had done for the southeast region what President Tinubu has done for them and expressed the confidence that the president would not only win in Ebonyi State but in the entire South East.
Prof. Yilwatda also used the occasion to address growing insinuations in some quarters that Ebonyi State had been conceded to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dismissing the claim, Prof. Yilwatda said the state would not allow the PDP to win any position in the forthcoming general election.
“We will return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Francis Nwifuru as Governor of Ebonyi State in 2027.
“We want to return all APC senators, members of the House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in 2027.
“Nobody has conceded Ebonyi to the PDP. Therefore, there is no vacancy in Ebonyi State. Ebonyi PDP has no place, and there is no vacancy at all in the Government House come 2027,” the APC National Chairman declared.
He commended the people of the state for their support for President Tinubu and urged them to re-elect him in the next presidential election in appreciation of what he has done for the state and the entire South-East through infrastructural transformation and human capital development.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, who also spoke at the event, said the state had no other presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections apart from President Tinubu.

He declared that Ebonyi remained a stronghold of the APC and vowed that the party would deliver the President in the state.

Gov. Nwifuru said President Tinubu had shown exceptional commitment to the state and deserved total support for appointing Senator Umahi as Minister of Works, a role he said Senator Umahi had performed creditably.

“Ebonyi has no other presidential candidate apart from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we will return him in the presidential election.

“We are standing here today to tell the whole world, especially those using the President’s name to orchestrate division and confusion in this great state, that we have only one party, and that is the APC.

“This statement became necessary because some people are going around claiming they have discussed with Mr President and that he has handed Ebonyi over to the PDP. They are also saying that Chief Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the President has given Ebonyi to him.

“Ebonyi is not for sale. We are restraining ourselves because the people are with us. Nobody should push us because we have what it takes to confront anyone trying to destabilise us.

“We want to tell Mr President that he has earned our votes. He gave us what we had never had in Eastern Nigeria — the office of the Minister of Works. And this Minister of Works is not sitting idle; he is working,” he stated.

Senator Umahi, in his remarks, said President Tinubu had done what no other President had done for Ebonyi State and the entire South-East by executing numerous projects across the state and the region.

“Ebonyi State is a one-party state under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. We are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot, not just for Ebonyi State but for the entire South-East and other geopolitical zones,” he said.